Quality of service support in a media exchange network

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling communication of media content by a network device in a communication network includes providing, by the network device, a plurality of quality of service options corresponding to at least one media file selected for communication to a remote user via a communication channel; receiving a quality of service selection specifying at least one of the plurality of quality of service options; and communicating the at least one media file to the remote user utilizing the received quality of service selection. The providing may include displaying, by the network device, the plurality of quality of service options. At least a portion of specified parameters may be transferred to a first communication device coupled to the communication network. At least a portion of the communication channel may be configured by a second device utilizing the transferred at least a portion of the specified parameters.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application makes reference to, claims priority to, and claims thebenefit of:

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/432,472 (Attorney Docket No.14185US01 01001 P-BP-2800) filed Dec. 11, 2002;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/443,894 (Attorney Docket No.14274US01 01002P-BP-2801) filed Jan. 30, 2003;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/457,179 (Attorney Docket No.14825US01 01015P-BP-2831) filed Mar. 25, 2003;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/478,528 (Attorney Docket No.14449US01 01034P-BP-2849) filed Jun. 13, 2003;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/443,897 (Attorney Docket No.14276US01) filed Jan. 30, 2003;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/444,099 (Attorney Docket No.14277US01) filed Jan. 30, 2003;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/443,996 (Attorney Docket No.14281 US01) filed Jan. 30, 2003;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/444,243 (Attorney Docket No.14282US01) filed Jan. 30, 2003;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/464,711 (Attorney Docket No.14823US01) filed Apr. 23, 2003;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/457,179 (Attorney Docket No.14825US01) filed Mar. 25, 2003; and

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/467,867 (Attorney Docket No.14967US01) filed May 05, 2003.

This application also makes reference to:

U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 14185U502 01001P-BP-2800) filed Sep. 8, 2003; and

U.S. application Ser. No. ______ Attorney Docket No. 14274U50201002P-BP-2801) filed Sep. 11, 2003.

All of the above stated applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to providing a service in acommunication network. In particular, certain embodiments of theinvention relate to a method and system for providing quality of servicein a communication network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, files having different display sizes and levels of resolution forimages and video may be attached to e-mail messages using a personalcomputer (PC) and sent to other personal computers via the Internet oran intranet. Also, files may be sent from one location to another over anetwork, for example, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network(WAN) utilizing file transfer protocol (FTP) or other protocols. Thefiles may be utilized in conjunction with certain media players such aspersonal computers, digital versatile disc (DVD) players, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers and personal computertablets, for example.

Depending on the size of a video file or an image file, the content maybe displayed in different resolution, color content and/or display size.Files are often sent from a source location to a destination locationwithout addressing a consumption quality of the file. Exemplaryconsumption quality characteristics or media parameters, may include,display resolution, amount of bandwidth to be utilized to transfer thefile, the time required to transfer the file, and any cost that may beassociated with transferring the file.

For example, a source system such as a personal computer may attempt tosend a high-resolution image file to a destination system such as apersonal computer over a low bandwidth network, for example, using adial-up service with a 56K modem. Often, on such networks, throughput ismuch less that 56 Kbps and as a result, higher resolution image filesmay require a significantly greater amount of time to facilitate filetransfer. The image file may be a very large file of the order ofmegabits and may not be compressed any further. In this regard, thehigh-resolution image file may take a significantly greater amount oftime to be transferred from the source personal computer to thedestination personal computer. Accordingly, a higher bandwidth networkconnection, for example, a fiber optic network or Ethernet network maybe required to transfer the image file in a relatively short amount oftime and may cost more than a low bandwidth connection such as adialup-connection.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth inthe remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain aspects of the invention may be found in a method and system forcontrolling a transfer of media content in a communication network. Themethod for controlling transfer of media content in a communicationnetwork may comprise the step of receiving an input specifying at leastone media file to be transferred via a communication channel in thecommunication network. A selection specifying various quality of service(QoS) parameters to be utilized for transferring of one or more of themedia files via the communication channel may also be received.Accordingly, one or more of the media files may be transferred via thecommunication channel utilizing at least some of the quality of serviceselection.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, at least a portion ofthe specified parameters may be transferred to a first communicationdevice that is coupled to the communication network. The second devicemay utilize at least a portion of the transferred parameters toconfigure at least a portion of the communication channel. The firstcommunication device may be a broadband headend or a media server.Notwithstanding, the received input specifying one or more media filesto be transferred may be generated and selected from a media guide,channel guide or a device guide. In this regard, generating and/orselecting the received input may be achieved from, for example, atelevision screen within a home. The method may further comprise queuingand/or buffering at least a portion of the selected media files duringtransfer of the media files.

A cost associated with the quality of service selections that areutilized to transfer the media file via the communication channel may bepresented to a user via, for example, a television screen within a home.The cost may be varied depending on the selected parameters that areutilized to specify the selected quality of service. Exemplaryparameters that may be utilized for transferring the selected mediafiles may comprise a resolution, color content, encoding type, encodingrate, compression type, display size, bandwidth required to transfer theselected media file, a time required for the transfer, and a cost of thetransfer.

Another embodiment of the invention may provide a machine-readablestorage, having stored thereon, a computer program having at least onecode section for controlling the transfer of media content in acommunication network. The at least one code section may be executableby a machine, thereby causing the machine to perform the steps asdescribed above for controlling the transfer of media content in acommunication network.

Aspects of the system for controlling the transfer of media content in acommunication network may comprise at least one processor that receivesan input specifying at least one media file to transfer via acommunication channel in the communication network. The processor mayalso receive a selection specifying various quality of service (QoS)parameters that are to be utilized for the transfer one or more of themedia files via the communication channel. Accordingly, one or more ofthe media files may be transferred by the processor via thecommunication channel utilizing at least some of the selected quality ofservice parameters.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the processor maytransfer at least a portion of the specified parameters to a firstcommunication device that is coupled to the communication network. Thefirst communication device may be a broadband headend or a media server.In any case, the second device may utilize at least a portion of thetransferred parameters to configure at least a portion of thecommunication channel. In another aspect of the invention, the inputreceived by the processor specifying one or more media files that are tobe transferred may be generated and selected from a media guide, channelguide or a device guide. In this regard, the received input selectionmay be generated from, for example, a television screen within a home.The processor may be further adapted to queue and/or buffer at least aportion of the selected media files while transferring the media files.

A cost associated with the quality of service selections that areutilized to transfer the media file via the communication channel may bepresented by the processor to a user via, for example, a televisionscreen within a home. The processor may be configured to vary the costdepending on the selected parameters that are utilized to specify theselected quality of service. Exemplary parameters that may be utilizedto transfer the selected media files may comprise a resolution, colorcontent, encoding type, encoding rate, compression type, display size,bandwidth required to transfer the selected media file, a time requiredfor the transfer, and a cost of the transfer. The processor may be amedia processing system processor, a media management system processor,a computer processor, a media exchange software processor and/or a mediaperipheral processor.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media exchangenetwork 100 that may be utilized in connection with providing quality ofservice (QoS) support, in accordance with various aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps of a method that maybe utilized to provide quality of service support on the media exchangenetwork of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a first exemplary media exchangenetwork in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of performing personal mediaexchange over a second exemplary media exchange network in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of performing third-party mediaexchange over a third exemplary media exchange network in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interfacein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration of several instantiations of a TVguide channel user interface of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interfaceshowing several options of a pushed media in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a schematic block diagram of a media processing system (MPS)interfacing to media capture peripherals in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processingsystem (MPS) in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a PC and an MPS interfacing to aserver on a media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a PC interfacing to personalmedia capture devices and remote media storage on a media exchangenetwork in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the invention may be found in a method and system forcontrolling transfer of media content in a communication network. Themethod for controlling transfer of media content in a communicationnetwork may comprise receiving an input specifying at least one mediafile that is to be transferred via a communication channel in thecommunication network. Based on a received selection specifying variousquality of service (QoS) parameters to be utilized to transfer one ormore of the media files, one or more of the media files may betransferred via the communication channel utilizing at least some of thereceived quality of service parameter selections. At least a portion ofthe specified parameters may be transferred to a first communicationdevice such as a broadband headend or a media server that is coupled tothe communication network. The second device may utilize at least aportion of the transferred parameters to configure at least a portion ofthe communication channel.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the received inputspecifying one or more media files to be transferred may be generatedand selected from a media guide, channel guide or a device guidedisplayed on a television screen within a home. At least a portion ofthe selected media files may be queued and/or buffered while beingtransferred. A cost associated with the quality of service selectionsthat are used to transfer the media file via the communication channelmay be presented to a user via, for example, a television screen withina home. The cost may be varied depending on the selected parameters thatare utilized to specify the selected quality of service. Exemplaryparameters for transferring the selected media files may include, butare not limited to, a resolution, color content, encoding type, encodingrate, compression type, display size, bandwidth required to transfer theselected media file, a time required for the transfer, and a cost of thetransfer.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media exchangenetwork 100 that may be utilized in connection with providing quality ofservice (QoS) support, in accordance with various aspects of theinvention. Specifically, the media exchange network 100 may be acommunication network comprising a personal computer (PC) 101, a mediaprocessing system (MPS) 102, and at least one media peripheral (MP) 103at a first location 104. The first location may be a first home, forexample. Additionally, a personal computer 105, a media processingsystem 106, and at least one media peripheral 107 may be located at asecond location 108. The second location 108 may be a home. The mediaperipheral 103 may interface with the personal computer 101 and/or themedia processing system 102 via, for example, a wireless link and/or awired link. The wired link may be a universal serial bus (USB) or aFirewire (IEEE 1394) connection. A personal computer comprising mediaexchange software (MES) running on or being executed by the personalcomputer, may also be referred to as a media processing system.

The personal computer 101 and the media processing system 102 mayinterface with a broadband access headend 109. The broadband accessheadend 109 may comprise a cable headend, a satellite headend, and/or adigital subscriber line (DSL) headend, in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention. Optionally, the media peripheral 103 mayinterface with the broadband access headend 109. The personal computer101, media processing system 102, and/or media peripheral 103 mayinclude internal modems such as a cable modem or DSL modem, or otherinterface devices in order to communicate with the broadband accessheadend 109. Optionally, the interface device such as a modem may beexternal to the personal computer 101, media processing system 102, andmedia peripheral 103.

Similarly, the media peripheral 107 may interface with the personalcomputer 105 and/or the media processing system 106 via, for example, awireless link and/or a wired link such as a USB or Firewire (IEEE 1394)connection. The personal computer 105 and the media processing system106 may interface with a broadband access headend 110. The broadbandaccess headend 110 may include a cable headend, a satellite headend, ora DSL headend, in accordance with various embodiments of the presentinvention. Optionally, the media peripheral 107 may interface with thebroadband access headend 110. The personal computer 105, mediaprocessing system 106, and/or media peripheral 107 may include internalmodems such as a cable modem or DSL modem, or other interface device inorder to communicate with the broadband access headend 110. Optionally,the interface device such as a modem may be external to the personalcomputer 105, media processing system 106, and media peripheral 107.

A media processing system may also comprise a set-top-box (STB), apersonal computer, and/or a television with a media management system(MMS). A media management system may also be referred to as a mediaexchange software (MES) platform. Notwithstanding, a media managementsystem may include a software platform operating on at least oneprocessor that may provide certain functionality including userinterface functionality, distributed storage functionality, networkingfunctionality, and automatic control and monitoring of media peripheraldevices. For example, a media management system may provide automaticcontrol of media peripheral devices, automatic status monitoring ofmedia peripheral devices, and inter-home media processing system routingselection. A media processing system may also be referred to as amedia-box and/or an M-box. Any personal computer may indirectly accessand/or control any media peripheral device in instances where thepersonal computer may include a media management system. Such accessand/or control may be accomplished through various communicationpathways via the media processing system or outside of the mediaprocessing system. A media processing system may also have thecapability to automatically access and control any media peripheraldevice without user interaction and/or with user intervention. Apersonal computer (PC) may include media exchange software running on orbeing executed by the personal computer and may be referred to as amedia processing system. The media processing system may also include aspeech recognition engine that may be adapted to receive input speechand utilize the input speech control various functions of the mediaprocessing system.

Each of the elements or components of the network for communicatingmedia or media exchange network may be identified by a network protocoladdress or other identifier which may include, but is not limited to, anInternet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address andan electronic serial number (ESN). Examples of elements or componentsthat may be identified by such addresses or identifiers may includemedia processing systems, media management systems, personal computers,media or content providers, media exchange software platforms and mediaperipherals.

The media exchange network 100 may further include a broadband accessheadend 111 that may be connected between a third location 112, anInternet infrastructure 115 and a media exchange server 113. In oneaspect of the invention, a single central server may support the mediaexchange network 100. However, the invention is not so limited, and atleast one other media exchange server 114 may optionally support themedia exchange network 100 that is coupled to Internet infrastructure115. This optional arrangement may be referred to as a multiserverarrangement. Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention mayinclude two or more media exchange servers strategically located atvarious locations in the media exchange network 100.

The broadband access headends 109 and 110 may also interface to theInternet infrastructure 115. The broadband access headend 111 mayinclude a cable headend, a satellite headend, or a DSL headend, inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. The third location112 may also include a personal computer, a media peripheral system,and/or a media peripheral as part of the media exchange network 100. Thethird location may be a home, for example.

The media exchange network may also include a media storage server 116and a third (3^(rd)) party media server 117, both interfacing to theInternet infrastructure 115. The media storage server 116 may interactwith the media exchange server 113 and may provide temporary and/orarchival storage for digital media on the media exchange network 100.For example, the media storage server 116 may temporarily store mediafiles that are addressed to certain media peripheral systems and/orpersonal computers on the media exchange network 100. The third (3^(rd))party arty media server 117 may store movies, video, user profiles, andother digital media that may be provided to users of the media exchangenetwork 100.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, abroadband access headend may be upgraded to a media exchange headend byadding functionality to facilitate the exchange of media on the mediaexchange network in conjunction with the media exchange server. Suchfunctionality may include distributed networking capability and archivalor long term media storage functionality, storage management and digitalrights management. Temporary storage may be utilized to aid in thedistribution and routing of media storage management, and digital rightsmanagement.

The media exchange server architecture may solve the problem ofcommunication between a device such as a first media peripheral system,a first personal computer and a first media peripheral at a first homeand second device such as a second media peripheral system, a second PCand a second media peripheral at another home over the media exchangenetwork 100. The media exchange servers 113 and 114 may providefunctionality on the media exchange network 100 including deviceregistration, channel/program setup and management, and/or security.

The various elements of the media exchange network 100 may includestorage locations for digital media and data. The storage locations mayinclude, for example, hard disk drives, a digital versatile disc (DVD)player, a compact disc (CD) player, floppy disk drives, RAM, or anycombination of these. The storage locations may also include, forexample, CompactFlash198 , SmartMedia198 , Memory Stick198 , SecureDigital198 MultiMedia, PCMCIA, or any combination thereof.

The personal computers 101, 105 may include desktop PC's, PC tablets,notebook PC's, handhelds, PDA's, or any computing device. The mediaprocessing systems 102, 106 may be regarded as essentially enhancedset-top-boxes. The media processing systems 102, 106 may each include atelevision screen or monitor for viewing and interacting with varioususer interfaces, media, data, and services that may be available on themedia exchange network. A remote control or pointing device may beutilized for control and/or navigation during viewing and/orinteraction. The personal computers 101 and 105 may each include amonitor for viewing and/or interacting with various user interfaces,media, data, and services that may be available on the media exchangenetwork using, for example, a keyboard and/or mouse. The mediaprocessing systems, personal computers, and/or media peripherals mayinclude functional software that may support interaction with the mediaexchange servers and media peripherals on the media exchange network100, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

The media peripherals 103, 107 of the media exchange network 100 mayinclude, for example, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, an MP3player, a home juke-box system, a personal digital assistant (PDA), amulti-media gateway device, and various home appliances. The mediaperipherals 103, 107 of the media exchange network 100 may includelegacy media peripherals which are those media peripherals that are inexistence today and are not fully compatible with the media exchangetechnology in accordance with various aspects of the invention. Themedia peripherals 103, 107 may also include new non-legacy mediaperipherals which may not be on the market yet or which are on themarket but in either case will be fully compatible with the technology.A legacy media peripheral may not have the software or interface tointeract directly with a media processing system on a media exchangenetwork.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, quality ofservice (QoS) may be affected by at least the resolution content, thedisplay size, and the color/grey-scale content of a media file, thebandwidth used to transfer a media file, the time to transfer a mediafile, and the cost to transfer a media file. Media content transferredacross a media exchange network often includes images and video havingdifferent digital media parameters supporting different levels of imageand display quality. Display quality may also include audio quality suchas encoding bit rate.

In a media exchange network, media content is typically transferred fromone user to another in a channelized manner. In this regard, the mediacontent may be incorporated within a channel format and the contents ofthe channel may be pushed or otherwise communicated from one user toanother via a communication network. In accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention, a user of the media exchange network may select a qualityof service (QoS) when incorporating media content into a channel formatbefore pushing or otherwise communicating the media via the channel toanother user over the media exchange network. For example, a user mayselect exemplary media parameters such as resolution content, colorcontent, encoding type, and display size of the media content file. Theuser may also select a bandwidth to be utilized to transfer the mediacontent file over the media channel on the media exchange network. Othermedia parameters that may be selected may include a time to transfer themedia content file, and a cost for transferring the media content filebased on the selection media parameters. Bandwidth, time, and cost mayusually be interdependent. For example, selecting a certain time totransfer a particular file such as a ten (10) Gigabyte video file within1 hour may, by definition, require a bandwidth of 1 GHz and cost $10.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps of a method that maybe utilized to provide quality of service support on the media exchangenetwork of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 2, in step 201, a media content file isselected, via a media processing system, to be transferred from a sourcelocation to a destination location on a media exchange network. In step202, a quality of service (QoS) is selected, via the media processingsystem, for the transfer of the media content file. In step 203,characteristics of the media content file, characteristics of a networkpath between the source location and the destination location, transfertime, and/or cost to transfer are modified based on the selected qualityof service. In step 204, the media content file is transferred from thesource location to the destination location over the media exchangenetwork according to the selected quality of service. In step 205,billing for the transfer of the media content file is performed based onthe selected quality of service.

In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, referring to FIG. 1, auser at the second (2^(nd)) home 108 may have a desire to transfer amedia content file, using the media processing system 106, to the mediaprocessing system 102 at the first (1^(st)) home 104. The media contentfile may comprise a digital video file. The user selects the mediacontent file using the media processing system 106. The user may thenselect a quality of service which defines the conditions under which themedia content file is to be transferred. Selecting the quality ofservice options may cause the media content file to be transferred tothe media processing system 102 within one (1) hour, at the highestresolution, the largest display size, with the maximum color content,and over a high bandwidth path through the media exchange network 100.The cost for this selected quality of service may be $10, for example.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the broadband accessheadend 110 may be adapted to provide quality of service support bymodifying the characteristics of the media content file that is the betransferred. Exemplary characteristics that may be modified by thebroadband access headend 110 may include media content file resolution,color content, display size, encoding and the characteristics of thenetwork path between the media processing system 106 and the mediaprocessing system 102. In the latter case, the exemplary characteristicsmay also define the bandwidth that is to be utilized between the mediaprocessing system 106 and the media processing system 102 to transferthe media content file within, for example, a one (1) hour time period.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, qualityof service support may be provided by the media exchange server 113 onthe media exchange network 100. Whenever a media content file is to betransferred from a source location to a destination, the media exchangeserver 113 may serve as an intermediary to process the media contentfile and set up the network path according to the selected quality ofservice. The media exchange server coordinates the transfer of the mediacontent file in a channel.

As another exemplary embodiment of the invention, with reference to FIG.8, a user of the media exchange network may push or otherwisecommunicate media such as “Vacation in Alaska Video” over a mediachannel to a friend who may be on the same media exchange network. Amedia guide user interface 800 may provide the user with the capabilityto select several quality of service (QoS) options or parameters 801that may define how media may be pushed and/or otherwise transferred toover a media channel. U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______(AttorneyDocket No. 14276U502) filed Sep. 30, 2003 and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. ______(Attorney Docket No. 14278U502) filed Sep. 30, 2003 alsoprovides exemplary media view or guide, device view or guide, andchannel view or guide, and are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a first, most expensiveoption 803 may be “Express Delivery” which delivers the media contentvia the media channel to the friend in 18 minutes using queuing at acost $1.20, for example. The pushed or otherwise communicated mediacontent may be stored in a file in an MPEG-2 format that was recorded ata rate of 4 Mbps, for example. Queuing may comprise buffering anddelivering a previous part of the media and then buffering anddelivering a next part of the media. For example, a first (1^(st)) six(6) minutes of the “Vacation in Alaska Video” may be buffered anddelivered first, then a second (2^(nd)) six (6) minutes may be bufferedand delivered next, and so on until the entire media is delivered.

A second, less expensive option 802 may be “Normal Delivery” which maydeliver the media channel in two (2) hours and thirteen (13) minuteswithout queuing and cost $0.59, for example. The pushed media contentmay be stored in a file in an MPEG-2 format that was recorded at a rateof 1.5 Mbps, for example.

A third, least expensive option 804 may be “Overnight Delivery” whichwould deliver the media channel by the next morning and cost only $0.05,for example. The pushed media content may be stored in a file in an MPEG2 format that was recorded at a rate of 19 Mbps and stored on a server,for example.

A major challenge is to be able to transfer and share many differenttypes of digital media, data, and services between one device/locationand another with ease while being able to index, manage, and store thedigital media and data.

For example, it is desirable to be able to distribute and store manytypes of digital media in a PC and/or television environment in auser-friendly manner without requiring many different types of softwareapplications and/or unique and dedicated interfaces. Any networkingissues or other technical issues should be transparent to the users. Itis also desirable to take advantage of existing hardware infrastructure,as much as possible, when providing such capability.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a media exchange network isprovided that enables many types of digital media, data, and/or servicesto be stored, indexed, viewed, searched for, pushed from one user toanother, and requested by users, using a media guide user interface. Themedia exchange network also allows a user to construct personal mediachannels that comprise his personal digital media (e.g., captureddigital pictures, digital video, digital audio, etc.), request thatthird-party media channels be constructed from third-party digitalmedia, and access the media channels pushed to him by other users on themedia exchange network.

PC's may be used but are not required to interface to the media exchangenetwork for the purpose of exchanging digital media, data, and services.Instead, set-top-boxes or integrated MPS's (media processing systems)may be used with the media exchange network to perform all of thepreviously described media exchange functions using a remote controlwith a television screen.

Current set-top-boxes may be software enhanced to create a MPS thatprovides full media exchange network interfacing and functionality via aTV screen with a TV guide look-and-feel. PC's may be software enhancedas well and provide the same TV guide look-and-feel. Therefore, themedia exchange network supports both PC's and MPS's in a similar manner.Alternatively, a fully integrated MPS may be designed from the groundup, having full MPS capability.

In the case of an MPS configuration, the user takes advantage of hisremote control and TV screen to use the media exchange network. In thecase of a PC configuration, the user takes advantage of his keyboardand/or mouse to use the media exchange network.

An MPS or enhanced PC is effectively a storage and distribution platformfor the exchange of personal and third party digital media, data, andservices as well as for bringing the conventional television channels toa user's home. An MPS and/or PC connects to the media exchange networkvia an existing communication infrastructure which may include cable,DSL, satellite, etc. The connection to the communication infrastructuremay be hard-wired or wireless.

The media exchange network allows users to effectively become their ownbroadcasters from their own homes by creating their own media channelsand pushing those media channels to other authorized users on the mediaexchange network, such as friends and family members.

FIG. 3 comprises a media exchange network 300 for exchanging and sharingdigital media, data, and services in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. The media exchange network 300 is a secure,closed network environment that is only accessible to pre-defined usersand service providers. The media exchange network of FIG. 3 comprises afirst PC 301 and a first media processing system (MPS) 302 at a user'shome 303, a communication infrastructure 304, external processinghardware support 305, remote media storage 306, a second PC 307 at aremote location 308 such as an office, and a second MPS 309 at aparent's home 310.

The PC's 301 and 307 and the MPS's 302 and 309 each include a mediaexchange software (MES) platform 311 and a networking component 312 forconnectivity. The MES platform 311 provides multiple capabilitiesincluding media “push” capability, media “access” capability, mediachannel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voiceoverlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection,authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home mediaexperience, billing service, and an integrated media guide interfaceproviding a TV channel guide look-and-feel.

The external processing hardware support 305 comprises at least oneserver such as a centralized internet server, a peer-to-peer server, orcable head end. The server may alternatively be distributed over varioushosts or remote PC's. The MES platform 311 may also reside on theexternal processing hardware support server 305. The remote mediastorage 306 may comprise user media storage and distribution systems 313and/or third party media storage and distribution systems 314.

The communication infrastructure 304 may comprise at least one ofinternet infrastructure, satellite infrastructure, cable infrastructure,dial-up infrastructure, cellular infrastructure, xDSL infrastructure,optical infrastructure, or some other infrastructure. The communicationinfrastructure 304 links the user's home 303, parent's home 310, remotemedia storage 306, and remote location office 308 to each other (i.e.,the communication infrastructure 304 links all users and serviceproviders of the media exchange network 300).

The various functions 315 of the media exchange network 300 comprisegenerating personal network associations, personal storage management,media capture device support, security/authentication/authorizationsupport, authorship tracking and billing and address registration andmaintenance. These media exchange management functions 315 may bedistributed over various parts of the media exchange network 300. Forexample, the personal network associations and personal storagemanagement functions may be integrated in the PC 301 at the user's home303.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of personal media exchange over a mediaexchange network 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In step 1, the media exchange software (MES) platform 401 isused to construct personal media channels on a PC 402 by a user at “myhouse” 403. For example, with various media stored on the PC 402 such asdigital pictures 404, videos 405, and music 406, the MES platform 401allows the digital media to be organized by a user into several channelshaving a media guide user interface 407 on the PC 402.

In step 2, the user at “my house” 403 pushes a media channel 408 (e.g.,“Joe's Music”) to “brother's house” 409 and pushes two media channels410 and 411 (e.g., “Vacation Video” and “Kid's Pictures”) to “Mom'shouse” 412 via a peer-to-peer server 413 over the internet-based mediaexchange network 400. “Brother's house” 409 includes a first MPS 414connected to the media exchange network 400. “Mom's house” 412 includesa second MPS 415 connected to the media exchange network 400. The MPS's414 and 415 also provide a media guide user interface 407.

In step 3, brother and/or Mom access the pushed media channels via theirrespective media processing systems (MPS's) 414 and 415 using theirrespective MPS TV screens and remote controls.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of third-party media exchange over a mediaexchange network 500 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In step 1, a PC-initiated third-party request is made by afirst party 501 via an internet-based media exchange network 500 using amedia guide user interface 502 on a PC 503. In step 2, an anonymousdelivery of the requested third-party channel 504 is made to a secondparty 505 via the internet-based media exchange network 500. In step 3,the second party 505 accesses the third-party channel 504 using a mediaguide user interface 506 on a TV screen 507 that is integrated into anMPS 508.

Similarly, in step A, an MPS-initiated third-party request is made by asecond party 505 via an internet-based media exchange network 500 usinga media guide user interface 506 on a TV screen 507 using a remotecontrol 509. The second party 505 may key in a code, using his remotecontrol 509, that is correlated to a commercial or some other thirdparty broadcast media. In step B, an anonymous delivery of the requestedthird-party channel 504 is made to a first party 501 via theinternet-based media exchange network 500. In step C, the first party501 accesses the third-party channel 504 using a media guide userinterface 502 on a PC 503.

FIG. 6 illustrates a media guide user interface 600 in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. The media guide user interface600 may be displayed on a TV screen 608 and controlled by a remotecontrol device 609. Also, the media guide user interface 600 may bedisplayed on a PC monitor and controlled by a keyboard or mouse.

The media guide user interface 600 may be configured not only forconventional TV channels but also for personal media channels 601 thatare constructed by a user of a media exchange network, friend's andfamily's media channels 602 constructed by friends and family, and thirdparty channels 603 that are constructed by third parties either uponrequest by a user of a media exchange network or based on a profile of auser.

The personal media channels 601 may include, for example, a “familyvacations channel”, a “kid's sports channel”, a “my life channel”, a“son's life channel”, a “my music channel”, and a “kid's music channel”.The friends and family media channels 602 may include, for example, a“brother's channel”, a “Mom's channel”, and a “friend's channel”. Thethird party media channels 603 may include, for example, a “Sears Fallsale channel” and a “car commercials channel”.

Each media channel may correspond to a schedule 604 showing, forexample, a week 605 and a year 606. For example, under the “kid's sportschannel”, Ty's soccer game could be scheduled to be viewed on Tuesday ofthe current week 605 and current year 606. For each media channel, asub-menu 607 allows for selection of certain control and accessfunctions such as “play”, “send to list”, “send to archive”, “confirmreceipt”, “view”, “purchase”, and “profile”.

FIG. 7 illustrates possible multiple instantiations of a media guideuser interface 700 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The media guide user interface 700 may be viewed with aschedule having formats of, for example, “month, year”, “week#, year”,“day, week#”, or “hour, day”.

Referring to FIG. 8, a user of a media exchange network may push a mediachannel (e.g., “Vacation in Alaska Video”) to a friend who is on thesame media exchange network. The media guide user interface 800 may givethe friend several options 801 for how to accept and download the pushedmedia in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

For example, a first, most expensive option 803 may be “ExpressDelivery” which would deliver the pushed media to the friend in 18minutes using queuing and cost $1.20, for example. The pushed media maybe stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 4Mbps, for example. Queuing comprises buffering and delivering a previouspart of the media and then buffering and delivering a next part of themedia. For example, a first six minutes of the “Vacation in AlaskaVideo” may be buffered and delivered first, then a second six minutesmay be buffered and delivered next, and so on until the entire media isdelivered.

A second, less expensive option 802 may be “Normal Delivery” which woulddeliver the pushed media in 2 hours and 13 minutes without queuing andcost $0.59, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in anMPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 1.5 Mbps, for example.

A third, least expensive option 804 may be “Overnight Delivery” whichwould deliver the pushed media by the next morning and cost only $0.05,for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2format that was recorded at a rate of 19 Mbps and stored on a server,for example.

FIG. 9A illustrates the detailed elements of a media processing system(MPS) 900 and media capture devices 901 in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. The media capture devices 901 may compriseaudio, video, and image players, such as digital cameras, digitalcamcorders, and MP3 players, that each include a temporary storage area902 and a communication interface 903 such as, for example, a USBinterface or a wireless interface. The media capture devices 901 havethe capability to interface to an MPS and a PC.

The MPS 900 comprises a media processing unit (MPU) 904, remote userinterface(s) 905, and a TV screen 918 to provide integrated mediaprocessing capability and indirect user interface capability. The remoteuser interfaces 905 may comprise a voice or keyed remote control 906,keyboards and pads 907, a remote PC access interface 908, and a remotemedia system access interface 909 (i.e., providing access from anotherMPS).

The media processing unit (MPU) 904 comprises TV and radio tuners 910for image and audio consumption, communications interfaces 911, channelprocessing 912 (creating, storing, indexing, viewing), storage 913,media players 914 (CD, DVD, Tape, PVR, MP3), an integrated userinterface 915 (to provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel), networkingcomponents 916 to provide client functions such as consumption(billing), authorization (e.g., using digital certificates and digitalID's), registration, security, and connectivity. In an alternativeembodiment of the present invention, the networking components 916 mayinclude a distributed server element 917 that is part of a distributedserver.

FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processingsystem (MPS) 920 in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention. The MPS 920 is essentially an enhanced set-top-box forviewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media, data, andservices that are available on the media exchange network using, forexample, a remote control. The MPS 920 comprises a media peripheral 921,a MMS (media management system) 922, and a broadband communicationinterface 923.

The media peripheral 921 may include a TV (television), a PC (personalcomputer), and media players (e.g., a CD player, a DVD player, a tapeplayer, and a MP3 player) for video, image, and audio consumption ofbroadcast and/or personal channels. The broadband communicationinterface 923 may include internal modems (e.g., a cable modem or DSLmodem) or other interface devices in order to communicate with, forexample, a cable or satellite headend.

The MMS 922 includes a software platform to provide functionalityincluding media “push” capability, media “access” capability, mediachannel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voiceoverlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection,authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home mediaexperience, billing service, and a media guide user interface providingan integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel.

FIG. 10 illustrates connectivity between a PC 1000, an MPS 1001, andexternal processing hardware 1002 (e.g., a server) in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The PC 1000 and MPS 1001 includenetworking components 1003 to provide client functions such asconsumption (billing), authorization, registration, security, andconnectivity. Alternatively, the PC 1000 and MPS 1001 may include adistributed server element 1004 that is part of a distributed server.

The PC 1000 and MPS 1001 connect to the external processing hardware1002 via wired or wireless connections. The external processing hardware1002 comprises a distributed server or peer-to-peer server. The externalprocessing hardware 1002 also comprises communication interfaces 1005(e.g., cable interfaces, optical interfaces, etc.) and a media exchangesoftware (MES) platform 1006. The MES platform 1006 in the externalprocessing hardware 1002 allows for communication with the PC 1000 andMPS 1001 which may also use the same MES platform 1006. The externalprocessing hardware 1002 also includes networking server components 1007to provide the similar client functions such as consumption (billing),authorization, registration, security, and connectivity at the serverside.

FIG. 11 illustrates connectivity between a PC 1100, remote media storage1101, and personal media capture devices 1102 when the PC 1100 is usedas the primary distributor of digital media such as in the case ofPC-to-PC operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The personal media capture devices 1102 and remote mediastorage 1101 connect to the PC 1100 via a wireless or wired connection.The remote media storage 1101 provides user media storage anddistribution 1103 as well as third party media storage and distribution1104. The personal media capture devices 1102 provide temporary storage1114 and communication interfaces 1115.

Viewing is done using a PC monitor 1105 instead of a television screen.The PC 1100 may include storage 1106, TV/radio tuners 1107 for mediaconsumption, media players 1108, and communication interfaces 1109 anduser interfaces 1110 similar to those for the MPS of FIG. 9A. The PC1100 includes a media exchange software (MES) platform 1111 thatprovides channel construction capability 1112 and networking capability1113. The channel construction capability 1112 allows third party andpersonal media access, sequencing, editing, media overlays and inserts,billing, scheduling, and addressing.

In another embodiment of the invention may provide a system forcontrolling the transfer of media content in a communication network.The system may comprise at least one processor that may be adapted toreceive an input which specifies one or more media files that are to betransferred via a communication channel in the communication network.The processor may also receive a selection that specifies variousquality of service (QoS) parameters that are to be utilized tofacilitate the transfer of the media files via the communicationchannel. Accordingly, one or more of the media files may be transferredby the processor via the communication channel utilizing the quality ofservice selection. The processor may be a media processing systemprocessor, a media management system processor, a computer processor, amedia exchange software processor and/or a media peripheral processor.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the processor maytransfer at least a portion of the specified parameters to a firstcommunication device that is coupled to the communication network. Thefirst communication device may be a broadband headend or a media server.The second device may use some or all of the transferred parameters toconfigure at least a portion of the communication channel.

In another aspect of the invention, the input received by the processorspecifying one or more media files that are to be transferred may begenerated from a media guide, channel guide or a device guide. In thisregard, the received input selection may be generated from, for example,a television screen within a home on which the media guide, channelguide and/or device guide may be displayed. The processor may be furtheradapted to queue and/or buffer at least various portions of the selectedmedia files during transfer of the media files.

A cost associated with the quality of service selections may bepresented by the processor to a user via, for example, a televisionscreen within a home. The processor may also be configured to vary thecost based on the selected parameters that are utilized to specify theselected quality of service. Exemplary parameters that may be utilizedto transfer the selected media files may comprise, a resolution, colorcontent, encoding type, encoding rate, compression type, display size,bandwidth required to transfer the selected media file, a time requiredfor the transfer, and a cost of the transfer.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in one computersystem, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spreadacross several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computersystem or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods describedherein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may bea general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, whenbeing loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that itcarries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A method for controlling communication of mediacontent by a network device in a communication network, the methodcomprising: providing, by the network device, a plurality of quality ofservice options corresponding to at least one media file selected forcommunication to a remote user via a communication channel; receiving aquality of service selection specifying at least one of said pluralityof quality of service options; and communicating said at least one mediafile to said remote user utilizing said received quality of serviceselection.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said providingcomprises displaying, by the network device, said plurality of qualityof service options.
 28. The method according to claim 26, comprisingtransferring at least a portion of specified parameters to a firstcommunication device coupled to the communication network.
 29. Themethod according to claim 27, comprising configuring at least a portionof said communication channel by a second device utilizing saidtransferred at least a portion of said specified parameters.
 30. Themethod according to claim 27, wherein said first communication device isat least one of a broadband headend and a media server.
 31. The methodaccording to claim 26, comprising one or both of queuing and/orbuffering at least a portion of said at least one media file during saidcommunicating.
 32. The method according to claim 26, comprisingpresenting a cost for said communicating of said at least one media filevia said communication channel utilizing said quality of serviceselection.
 33. The method according to claim 32, comprising varying saidcost depending on said quality of service selection.
 34. The methodaccording to claim 26, wherein said quality of service selection forsaid communicating of said at least one media file comprises at leastone of: a resolution, color content, encoding type, encoding rate,compression type, display size, a bandwidth to be utilized for transferof said at least one media file, a time to be utilized for saidtransfer, and/or a cost for said transfer.
 35. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having stored thereon, a computer programhaving at least one code section for controlling communication of mediacontent by a network device in a communication network, the at least onecode section being executable by a computer for causing the computer toperform steps comprising: providing, by the network device, a pluralityof quality of service options corresponding to at least one media fileselected for communication to a remote user via a communication channel;receiving a quality of service selection specifying at least one of saidplurality of quality of service options; and communicating said at leastone media file to said remote user utilizing said received quality ofservice selection.
 36. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 35, wherein said providing comprises code fordisplaying, by the network device, said plurality of quality of serviceoptions.
 37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according toclaim 35, comprising code for transferring at least a portion ofspecified parameters to a first communication device coupled to thecommunication network.
 38. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 36, comprising code for configuring at least aportion of said communication channel by a second device utilizing saidtransferred at least a portion of said specified parameters.
 39. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 27, whereinsaid first communication device is at least one of a broadband headendand a media server.
 40. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 35, comprising code for one or both of queuing and/orbuffering at least a portion of said at least one media file during saidcommunicating.
 41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium accordingto claim 35, comprising code for presenting a cost for saidcommunicating of said at least one media file via said communicationchannel utilizing said quality of service selection.
 42. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 41,comprising code for varying said cost depending on said quality ofservice selection.
 43. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 35, wherein said quality of service selection forsaid communicating of said at least one media file comprises at leastone of: a resolution, color content, encoding type, encoding rate,compression type, display size, a bandwidth to be utilized for transferof said at least one media file, a time to be utilized for saidtransfer, and/or a cost for said transfer.
 44. A system for controllingcommunication of media content by a network device in a communicationnetwork, the system comprising: at least one processor within thenetwork device, said at least one processor configured to provide aplurality of quality of service options corresponding to at least onemedia file selected for communication to a remote user via acommunication channel; said at least one processor configured to receivea quality of service selection specifying at least one of said pluralityof quality of service options; and said at least one processorconfigured to communicate said at least one media file to said remoteuser utilizing said received quality of service selection.
 45. Thesystem according to claim 44, wherein during said providing, said atleast one processor enables displaying of said plurality of quality ofservice options.
 46. The system according to claim 44, wherein said atleast one processor is configured to transfer at least a portion ofspecified parameters to a first communication device coupled to thecommunication network.
 47. The system according to claim 45, whereinsaid at least one processor enables configuring at least a portion ofsaid communication channel by a second device utilizing said transferredat least a portion of said specified parameters.
 48. The systemaccording to claim 45, wherein said first communication device is atleast one of a broadband headend and a media server.
 49. The systemaccording to claim 44, wherein said at least one processor is configuredto one or both of queue and/or buffer at least a portion of said atleast one media file during said communicating.
 50. The system accordingto claim 44, wherein said at least one processor is configured topresent a cost for said communicating of said at least one media filevia said communication channel utilizing said quality of serviceselection.
 51. The system according to claim 50, wherein said at leastone processor is configured to vary said cost depending on said qualityof service selection.
 52. The system according to claim 44, wherein saidquality of service selection for said communicating of said at least onemedia file comprises at least one of: a resolution, color content,encoding type, encoding rate, compression type, display size, abandwidth to be utilized for transfer of said at least one media file, atime to be utilized for said transfer, and/or a cost for said transfer.